Policy Text
Page 1 of 7 General Order 1 -8 (12/4/2024)
OLEORESIN CAPSICUM ( OC) SPRAY CANISTER AND FOGGER
RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: OLEORESIN CAPSICUM ( OC) SPRAY CANISTER
AND FOGGER
Chapter
1 Number
8 #Pages
7
CALEA Standards: 4.1.4, 4.1 .5, 4.2.1b -d, 4.2.2, 4.3.1a ,
4.3.2, 4.3.3 , 17.5.2
Related Orders: General
Order 01 -18 Effect ive Date : 12/4/2024
Revised By: Review
Prv. Rev. Date: 07/29/2021
If any provision of this General Order conflicts with any collective bargain ing article, the collective
bargaining agreement shall govern.
Chief of Police :
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to establish the policy and procedure for the use of
Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Spray and the OC Fogger .
II. SUMMARY OF CHANGE
This General Order is up for triannual review. Updated unit names were added. All
added material should be bold and italicized throughout the document.
III. POLICY
It is the policy of the Richmon d Police Department to provide its members w ith OC
Spray as a less than lethal intermediate force weapon . OC Spray may be used to affect an
arrest and/or control a situation where the threat of bodily harm exists and where the use
of the issued baton or sidearm is not practical . The use of OC Spray is encouraged in
those situations where other means of force are inappropriate or unr easonable. Only the
Department -issued individual canister may be used in any enforcement action.
IV. ACCOUNTABILITY STATEME NT
All employees ar e expected to fully comply with the guidelines and timelines set forth in
this General Order . Responsibility rests with the Division Commander to ensure that any
violations of policy are investigated and if a ppropriate, training, counse ling and/ or
disciplinary action is initiated.
This directive is for internal use only and does not enlarge an employee’s civil liability i n
any way . It should not be cons trued as the creation of a higher standard of safety or case
in an evidentiary sense , with respect to thir d party claims . Violation of this directive, if
proven, can only form the basis of a complaint by this Department, and then only in a
non-judicial administrative setting.
Page 2 of 7 G eneral Order 1 -8 (12/4/2024)
OLEORESIN CAPSICUM (OC) SPRAY CANISTER AND FOGGER V. DEFINITION
OLEORESIN CAPSICUM (OC) AEROSOL SPRAY – A n organi cally based less -than-
lethal aerosol chemical agen t designed to subdue an individual by irritating skin and
mucous membranes . The result of contact with the spray is pain and discomfort such that
the individual may lose their capacity to resist. This allows the officer time to sub due and
gain control of t he offender.
VI. PROCEDURE
A. General Policy – Individual OC Spray Canister:
1. The OC Spray individua l canister shall be issued to al l officers who qualify on
a Department -approved training course conducted by a qualified OC
instructor and will be carr ied wh ile on -duty. Once the member has received
the initial training and it is documented, the supervisor will ensure that they
will rece ive the required refresher training and re- qualify during in- service
training. Members that are unable to complete th e initial or re -certification
course will not be allowed to carry the OC Spray . Remedial tra ining will be
offered to those who fall into this category . The initial, Department -approved
in-service training cour se shall consist of a four-hour training bloc k for
recruits . The Department ’s approved re -certification training course shall
consist of a one- hour training block, during the officer’s biennial (every two
(2) calendar years) in -service training. All training and proficiency shall be
documented and m aintained by the Training Division.
[CAL EA 4.1.4, 4.3.2, 4.3.3 ]
2. Officers are only authorized to use the Department -issued OC Spray
individual canister , on- duty or off -duty, when acting in a law en forcement
capacity.
3. At the beginning of each tour-of-duty, during/after roll call, the OC Spray
individual canister shall be shaken to en sure the propellant and capsicum is
properly mixed.
4. All officers shall be responsible for maintaining a properly cha rged OC Spray
individual canister . On aver age, an officer will get bursts
from an individual canister . The shelf life for an individual canister is four (4)
years . The officer shall follow established procedures for replacing the
expended/expired ca nister.
5. Members of the Department will have their individual canister s inspected for
serviceability /operational readi ness during in- service training by the OC
instructor. Any individual canister that is found to be